Omni Mount Washington (Mount Washington Course) – Played July 2021
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 210 Mount Washington Hotel Road, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
- Year: 1915
- Original Architect: Donald Ross
- Additional Work By: Ross Forbes & Brian Silva
- Course Access: Resort
- Walking Rules: Carts & Available
Score Card Information:
- Gold: 7,004 yards, Par 72, 73.7 Rating/135 Slope
- Blue: 6,400 yards, Par 72, 70.7 Rating/131 Slope (Men’s), 77.5 Rating/138 Slope (Women’s)
- White: 5,697 yards, Par 72, 67.8 Rating/120 Slope (Men’s), 73.1 Rating/129 Slope (Women’s)
- Red: 5,246 yards, Par 72, 70.4 Rating/126 Slope
I tried to play the Mount Washington Course in 2020, but couldn’t make the schedule work. As a result, I was happy to get up here even though the consistent rain on the drive up had me questioning my decision. Thankfully the rain quit by the time I reached the first tee and only returned for one hole.
I’ve been by the Omni Mount Washington resort a few times over the many summers I’ve spent in New Hampshire. It was fun to finally see the course.
I really enjoy playing courses that are off the beaten path. There are certainly ones that are more remote, but I still got the feeling here of being disconnected and free to enjoy the surroundings.
The fact that the Mount Washington Course is a Donald Ross layout is a bonus. There was a restoration by Brian Silva in 2008 to bring back the original Ross plans.
With that backstory out of the way, it’s time for the course tour. All listed yardages are from the Blue tees.
Hole 1 – 377 yards – Par 4
A medium length hole gets your round started. Drives up the right side stay safely away from the fairway bunkers and give you the best angle into the green.
Hole 2 – 395 yards – Par 4
The second is a bit longer than the first and bends slightly to the right. You’ll want to stay away from the left side with bunkers and trees lurking.
I took the photo below to show you how much the hotel features in your view on the opening holes.
The contours are not overly pronounced, but they are definitely present.
Hole 3 – 379 yards – Par 4
A similar aesthetic is present through the opening holes. The topography is flat in this section of the course and the design embraces it.
Hole 4 – 309 yards – Par 4
With a good drive on this short four, birdie is definitely in play. Well placed bunkers are ready to catch errant shots at different distances depending on your club selection on the tee.
Hole 5 – 193 yards – Par 3
We get another great view of the resort’s hotel from this tee. The relatively straightforward hole leaves you bandwidth to take in the scenery.
There is some contouring to the green to keep you intrigued.
Hole 6 – 501 yards – Par 5
This par five isn’t overly long, but I played it directly into a breeze, making it a three-shot hole for sure. Like previous holes, bunkers dot the landscape until you reach the subtly contoured green.
This view from behind the green really accentuates the slopes.
Hole 7 – 318 yards – Par 4
There is a modest carry to reach the fairway here. With a good drive you should have a short iron in your hand.
Hole 8 – 410 yards – Par 4
One word to describe this hole…demanding. The rough is thick so you need to hit the fairway. An open green allows for shorter players to run up their second shots.
Hole 9 – 394 yards – Par 4
A creek bisects the fairway at a 45 degree angle and is about a 200 yard carry. I recommend pounding driver up the right side of the fairway to attack the modestly guarded green.
Hole 10 – 522 yards – Par 5
As the back nine starts we get some elevation change. The fairway rises as you can see here and then goes up again at the green.
You might have a blind second shot depending on your drive.
Hole 11 – 508 yards – Par 5
Back to back par fives here, but on this one we go back down the hill a bit. Good drives make this hole reachable for sure.
Hole 12 – 313 yards – Par 4
There is a bit more room on the left side of this hole. I pulled a drive but was happy to see the ball in the rough.
Hole 13 – 374 yards – Par 4
The green is hidden from you as this dogleg right goes uphill. If you want to cut off some of the corner, be aware of the fairway bunkers.
Hole 14 – 204 yards – Par 3
A big landing area is a welcome sight on this long par three. The green complex has a kicker in the front left that will funnel shots into the middle of the green.
Hole 15 – 293 yards – Par 4
Dealer’s choice on the tee ball strategy here. It’s a short hole, but bunkers guard the front of the green.
Hole 16 – 186 yards – Par 3
This hole really fit my eye and my typical draw.
There is a lot of slope in this green that you cannot see from the tee.
Hole 17 – 371 yards – Par 4
The left bunkers are definitely in play as I found myself stymied in one of them. Avoiding bunkers is the name of the game on this hole.
Hole 18 – 353 yards – Par 4
You don’t want to step up and pound driver on this tee. A hazard splits the fairway from the green. The vegetation is tall enough to obscure your view of the green.
The Mount Washington course is situated on a modest piece of land. While there aren’t wild changes in terrain, the holes fit the land and make sense as a whole. I think the course is a good version of a resort course. There aren’t many forced carries and virtually no water. The challenge is present in the tricky greens. It was a delightful afternoon on a course I’d been wanting to play for a long time.